On this day in 1779 Lord Cockburn was born

On this day in 1779, Henry Thomas Cockburn of Bonaly or Lord Cockburn was born.

Cockburn was a Scottish lawyer, judge, literary figure and committed conservationist for the city he loved. A well-respected figure of the time, his legacy lives on today in many forms, from streets named after him to the Cockburn Association, founded in his memory to protect the amenity of this city and campaign for its improvement.

He died at the age of 75 at his estate in Bonaly in the Pentland Hills on 26 April 1854.

Cockburn entered the Faculty of Advocates in 1800,which signalled the start of a distinguished legal career, becoming Lord Advocate Depute in 1806, then Solicitor General for Scotland before taking a seat on the Scottish bench in 1834. He excelled at criminal cases and played a part in some celebrated cases. He was the defence lawyer for Helen McDougal, Burke’s wife, in the trial for the Burke and Hare murders, and won her acquittal.

His book, Circuit Journeys published posthumously in 1888 is a fascinating and insightful account of his times as a Circuit Judge, travelling the length and breadth of Scotland dispensing justice. His observations of people and places are delightfully told.

In 1849, he wrote A Letter to the Lord Provost on the Best Ways of Spoiling the Beauty of Edinburgh in which he outlined his concerns and his passions for Edinburgh. It was more of a campaigning pamphlet than book, within which he said, “Edinburgh is not exempt from the doom that makes everything spoilable.” He called for citizens to take a direct interest in the affairs of the city and hold the Town Council accountable for its actions and its proposals.

The Cockburn Association continues this legacy of advocacy for the City of Edinburgh. We are a membership organisation and open to everyone who loves this city. More information can be found at:     https://www.cockburnassociation.org.uk/join/